Representatives Jamie Raskin and Andrea Salinas have introduced the Ban Gambling on Elections Act in Congress, aiming to counteract betting markets related to elections.
Maryland’s Raskin and Oregon’s Salinas have proposed a House version of Senator Jeff Merkley’s legislation already in the Senate.
Senate Bill 5100, proposed in September, seeks to amend the Commodity Exchange Act to prohibit any form of political betting.
Raskin and Salinas aim to generate support in the House to align with Senate Bill 5100.
Presently, Senate Bill 5100 has undergone two readings and is with the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Election betting has surged in the US, with platforms like Kalshi, Polymarket, and Robinhood drawing significant user numbers.
Kalshi gained attention after a legal victory allowing it to conduct election contracts. Meanwhile, Polymarket’s CEO faced an FBI raid connected to election activities.
Robinhood, which transacted $500 million around the US presidential election shortly after launching, has also shown interest in the sports betting market.
Raskin emphasized: “With growing distrust in our electoral system, it is crucial to eliminate gambling in US elections.
“Our democracy requires dependable and clear processes for voting and counting, not bets that obscure the process.
“I am fully committed to collaborating with Congresswoman Salinas and Senator Merkley in urging Congress to pass this sensible legislation.”
Salinas expressed concern: “Election gambling could set a harmful example, motivating negative influences on our election systems.
“We must be cautious and evaluate the serious implications of such wagering on our democracy.”
Merkley stated: “Wagering on elections shifts them from leadership investments to profit-driven activities.
“This is inherently corrupt, as bettors could affect outcomes by financing smear campaigns, akin to manipulating a baseball game by controlling the umpire.”
The original article titled “US Representatives Submit Ban Gambling on Elections Act to Congress” was published on [EGR Intel](https://www.egr.global/intel/news/us-representatives-submit-ban-gambling-on-elections-act-to-congress/).